India visit aimed at solidifying friendship: Nikki Haley

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed appreciation for President Donald Trump’s South Asia and Indo-Pacific strategies and commended his initiative for denuclearisation of Korean Peninsula in his meeting with US envoy to UN Nikki Haley here.

Haley, a close aide of Trump, noted in her meeting with Modi the deepening relations between India and the US particularly in strategic and defence sectors.

Both the dignitaries discussed ways to enhance India- US cooperation including on counter-terrorism and in multilateral fora. They expressed confidence that strong India-US partnership will continue to be an important factor for global peace and prosperity.

Visit of Indian-origin Nikki Haley -- star of the Trump team and United States envoy to the United Nations --could contribute to ongoing bilateral dialogue to address host of irritants in bilateral ties ranging from trade to Russia to Iran.

For India, the two-day visit, which concludes on Thursday, has provided an opportunity to engage with the rising star of the Republican Party as Haley is understood to nurture ambitions for the top job in the US administration.

Haley, the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any US presidential administration, is reportedly preparing to run for the White House in 2020 or 2024.

“I’m here to once again solidify our love for India, our belief in friendship that India and US have together and our willingness to want to make that relationship even stronger. In this day and time we see more and more reasons to India and US come together,” Haley said in her initial remarks.